The course was cancelled ... but I still gained an A*

Standout students across the region are jumping for joy after achieving top A-level results.

Two years of hard work culminated in wild celebrations for young people at Baysgarth School sixth form, Barton, Brigg Sixth Form and John Leggott and North Lindsey colleges, both in Scunthorpe.

University dreams became a reality for so many hopefuls, with none more elated than 18-year-old Ellie Whiteley.

Ellie managed to obtain high grades in sociology, religious studies and Spanish at John Leggott College, but her biggest achievement was an outstanding grade in Russian.

Despite having no Russian family or friends, Ellie has strived since the age of 14 to learn the language. Her efforts were rewarded when she finally got her results, achieving an A* at Russian A-level.

She is the only English student to have studied a Russian A-level in North Lincolnshire, and will now study the language alongside Spanish at the University of Sheffield.

Ellie, from Bottesford, said: "I enjoy the challenge of picking up a new language, so decided to choose Russian as an option when I was in Year 8 at Frederick Gough School.

"I went on a school trip to Moscow and fell in love with the language, and was delighted when I found out I could study it at John Leggott.

"There were four of us studying it at AS level, but we were told at the end of our first year that there were not enough people for the course to continue, so they cancelled it.

"I cried my eyes out and thought that was it for me. I didn't think I would be able to get into university any more because I had nowhere to learn the language. Fortunately my Russian teacher had time to tutor me after school hours. She saw how enthusiastic I was and wanted to help.

"I was so driven to succeed that I paid to sit the exam out of my own pocket. I thought I would get a C or B because the year has been so stressful, but I was gobsmacked when I got such a high mark. It still hasn't sunk in."

Ellie will spend a year abroad as part of her degree and has already decided that Moscow will be her destination of choice. In her spare time she has also learnt to speak Welsh, Polish, Chinese, Spanish and Japanese.

And she is not the only person looking to travel the world, with another John Leggott student excited to be taking the next step.

Juliet Lennon, 17, has wowed her tutors by taking all of her exams a year early, finishing with an incredible two A*s in biology and chemistry and two As in maths and Spanish.

Juliet, who will now study biology and Spanish at Imperial College London, has already travelled around the world.

She said: "Since finishing exams I have had no time to think or worry about the results. I've been working as a sailing instructor and have also been to the Philippines, Borneo, Singapore and Holland.

"It feels amazing to have got these grades and I am really excited to go to London. I know I will be a year younger than everyone else, but I feel ready to go and my grades prove that I can do it.

"I turn 18 in October so I won't have long to wait before I join in with everyone going out. The college has been fantastic and my tutors have given me so much support because I am going a year early."

Juliet dreams of being a marine biologist and wants to be working in South America before she turns 30.

The college is also proud to see seven of its students heading to university at Oxford or Cambridge.

Tiff Brydges, 17, achieved A grades in chemistry, biology and further maths, and an A* in physics.

She will start at Oxford University this year, studying physics and is delighted to have secured such good results.

"It feels amazing and I couldn't believe it when I saw the grades I had got," she said.

"I have been really worried about them but it feels fantastic and I am so happy. I am so excited about university and think it will be such a good experience.

"It will be a completely new type of education with so much more independence."

Terence Linnell, 18, got A*s in chemistry and physics, an A in computing and a B in music technology.

Terence will study natural sciences at Cambridge.

He said: "I can't describe the feeling but a large part of it is relief that I can start officially planning the next step.

"For all the hard work I have put in it feels amazing to have secured the results I needed. The fees are something that everyone will have to deal with and hopefully this degree will help me find a job that will pay them off in the end.

"To say I feel delighted would be an understatement."

Many of the students at Brigg Sixth Form were not only celebrating fantastic A-levels, but also the chance to study at their dream universities.

One of these was Talullah Shepherd, who also gained a place at Oxford University, to study medicine.

The 18-year-old, from Barton-Upon-Humber, received an A* in biology plus A grades in maths, geography and chemistry. Talullah said: "It was a relief when I found out I had got in.

"It is nice all the hard work has paid off. I have always been interested in science from a young age.

"I want to go into consultancy but I've not decided exactly what area yet.

"I love the city of Oxford and this will be a fresh start."

Students at Baysgarth School were also celebrating their well-earned results, some of whom faced especially challenging circumstances.

Rebecca Baines has struggled with dyslexia and in Year 7 had the reading age of a three-year-old.

The 18-year-old, from Wootton, received an A* in BTEC dance and an E in drama, but said it was the dance result she really wanted.

She said: "I am pleased with the results. Because I have really bad dyslexia, they did not think I would come out with any GCSEs or A-levels.

"My reading age is now what it should be for my age.

"I worked really hard for that result.

"I am looking to set up my own business in the area.

"I want to become a dance fitness instructor and set up places in Barton, Scunthorpe and Hull."